Etihad Airways has signed to become the Official Front of Shirt Sponsor of Mumbai City FC in a multi-year partnership commencing in the 2024-25 season. The move demonstrates Etihad’s continued commitment to the Indian market and Mumbai City’s profile as one of the highest performing professional sports teams in India, having won two Indian Super League titles and two Indian Super League Cups. The deal, which is a record in Indian football in terms of duration, coincides with Etihad’s celebration of 20 years of flights to India and will see the Etihad Airways logo appear prominently on the front of the shirt of Mumbai City FC’s first and youth team match and training kits from the 2024-25 season.
The partnership builds on the decades-long connection between the two organisations’ home countries and reinforces shared values of teamwork and excellence. Both the club and the airline aim to bring people together and make ambition fly.
Kandarp Chandra, CEO of Mumbai City FC, commented: “We are extremely pleased to have Etihad on board as our Official Front-of-House Sponsor. Their support is a testament to the brand of football that Mumbai City plays – one that is committed to performance and the pursuit of excellence on and off the pitch. Both Etihad and Mumbai City are proud to represent resilient global cities that balance tradition with modernity.”
Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways, said: “We strive to enrich our presence in the Indian market through relevant and meaningful partnerships and we are delighted to welcome Mumbai City FC to the Etihad family. India remains a strategically important market for Etihad and we remain committed to serving the Indian community with convenient connections from 11 destinations in India to the Middle East, Europe and North America.”
Etihad is celebrating 20 years of flying to India this month and from 1 September, Etihad’s A380 will fly between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi to demonstrate its commitment to growth in India. Guests will have the chance to experience the iconic superjumbo on this popular route for four months.
The airline flies to 11 destinations in India, with flights to Mumbai four times a day, with convenient connections to Abu Dhabi and beyond. In total, Etihad operates 175 flights a week between Abu Dhabi and India.
“Through our partnership with Mumbai City FC, we hope to bring joy to the football-loving community in Mumbai,” Neves continued.
About Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC, founded in August 2014, is a club that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL), the top division of Indian football. The club also competes in the Super Cup (since 2017) and the Durand Cup (since 2022). The Islanders, as the club is fondly called, is the only club in India to have achieved the unique 'double' of winning the ISL League and the ISL Cup in the 2020-21 season. The club has also won the ISL League Shield in 2022-23 and the ISL Cup in 2023-24, making it a total of four trophies for the club.
In Asia, Mumbai City FC competed in the AFC Champions League in 2022 and the 2023/24 seasons, becoming the first Indian club to win the continent's premier club competition.
In November 2019, Mumbai City FC became part of the City Football Group (CFG) when the group acquired a majority stake in the club, joining Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor and businessman Bimal Parekh as co-owners. The club joined clubs such as Manchester City FC, New York City FC, Melbourne City FC and others in the CFG family.
Mumbai City FC plays its home games at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri, Mumbai. The club crest incorporates key elements that represent the city of Mumbai and is a reflection of the dynamism and indefatigable attitude of the city, while also reflecting the modern values that define the city and the club.
About Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, was founded in 2003 and has quickly grown to become one of the world’s leading airlines. From its home base in Abu Dhabi, Etihad flies to passenger and cargo destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. Together with Etihad’s codeshare partners, Etihad’s network provides access to hundreds of international destinations. In recent years, Etihad has received numerous awards for its superior service and products, cargo offering, loyalty programme and more. Etihad sees tackling the climate crisis as the most important issue of our time and was named Airline Ratings Environmental Airline of the Year for the third year in a row in 2024. It has invested billions in fuel-efficient aircraft. Through strategic partnerships with major global aviation brands and OEMs, Etihad is relentless in its pursuit of low-carbon industry.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a press release)
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